Saunders Students Write, Illustrate Own Books

May 26, 1994

NEWPORT NEWS — Students and teachers at Saunders Elementary School celebrated by having an ``Animal Fair'' of books. The students created, designed and illustrated individual or class books with the predominant theme of animals. The books were laminated and bound by teachers, parents and volunteers.

The following are samples of the children's work:

THE LOST TOOTH

Once upon a time there lived a beaver named Dwayne. Dwayne lost his front tooth. He asked his mom what do to. His mom said that it would grow back. His Mom said until your tooth grows back you can't cut down anymore trees.

Dwayne's tooth didn't seem to grow back fast enough. So Dwayne asked his dad if he can put in a gold tooth so he can cut down some trees. His dad said no.

Dwayne was sad. One day when Dwayne woke up he looked in his mirror and his tooth had grown back. Dwayne was surprised! He told his mom right away. His mom was happy.

Dwayne went outside to get his brother, Donte. Dwayne and Donte went and cut down some trees. Dwayne thought that his new tooth worked better than ever. Dwayne was happy with his new tooth and he lived happily ever after.

Dwayne Artis II, second grade

MARTHA GOES TO THE PARK

Once upon a time there lived a giraffe named Martha. One afternoon Martha went to visit her grandma.

Martha and her grandma decided to go to the park. Martha wanted to swing but her neck was too long and it kept hitting the top of the swings.

Martha decided to tie her neck into a knot so that she could swing. Then her neck started to hurt. She tried to untie her neck but she could not get it untied.

Martha screamed for her grandma. She screamed and screamed. Her grandma came running and asked what was the matter. Martha told her that she couldn't get the know out of her neck. Grandma quickly untied her neck. Martha's neck was sore. Her grandma said it will feel better in a little while.

Martha and her grandma decided to go home. When they got home Martha told her grandma that she wasn't ever going to play on the swing again.

Kristen Buehler, second grade

READER RABBIT

Once upon a time there lived a six-year old rabbit. His name was Reader Rabbit. They called him this because he loved to read. He was good for his age, too. He would always want to read in school. He would always read to his family also. He alwasy carried a story book with him wherever he went. Everyone he knew would ask him why he read so much. He would just keep on walking fascinated by beautiful pictures in his book.

One day he forgot his book at home. He had promised his teacher he would read to the class. The teacher just told him to bring the book the next day. He did.

The class enjoyed his story. His teacher liked the story, too. She liked it so much that she asked Reader Rabbit to read a poem in the school play. It was about reading. The audience was inspired by the poem.

They told him that he did a good job reading. His mom gave him a big sweet carrot when he got home for doing such a good job in the play.